Envoy to Saudis resigns; Haig denies AWACS link

By
WITH ANALYSIS FROM MONITOR CORRESPONDENTS AROUND THE WORLD,
EDITED BY CLARA GERMANI /
July 29, 1981

Washington

Robert Neumann, the US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has resigned for personal reasons, Secretary of State Alexander Haig said, refusing to confirm reports linking the resignation with the ambassador's reported concern over the Reagan administration's slow pace in proceeding with the sale of sophisticated AWACS radar planes to Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, President Reagan nominated Robert Paganelli, a Foreign Service officer, as the new Ambassador to Syria. Mr. Paganelli now serves as deputy chief of the US Mission in Italy. If confirmed by the Senate, he will succeed Talcott Seelye, who has r esigned.